Region 7 Education Service Center proudly announces Mineola ISD Board of Trustees as the 2023 Regional School Board of the Year. The MISD Board of Trustees will serve as the regional representative in this year's Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) School Board Awards Program. This esteemed recognition highlights the board's exceptional leadership, dedication to academic excellence, and commitment to the well-being of students within the district.
Comprised of diverse and talented individuals, the Mineola ISD Board of Trustees brings a wealth of experience and expertise to their roles. The board members include Glen Dossett, Rodney Watkins, Jill Quiambao, Jay McGough, Janice Etheridge, Todd Morgan, and Robbie Ballard. The Mineola ISD Board of Trustees humbly dedicates the prestigious honor of being selected as the 2023 Region 7 School Board of the Year to the late Dr. John Abbott. Dr. Abbot, who was a board member until his passing on April 21, 2023, left an indelible mark on the district and the lives of countless students.
"Over the past year, the Board of Trustees has worked diligently to advocate to the community for improved district facilities, tackled policy issues impacting safety and security, and supported the expectation of academic excellence for our students, faculty, and staff members," said Superintendent Cody Mize. "The success that we have experienced as a District starts at the top of our organization with the Board of Trustees and trickles down to every leader and employee in our district.”
From the outset, the board's focus on safety and preparedness has been unwavering. In February 2023, they adopted an updated emergency operations plan, ensuring a secure and conducive environment for students, faculty, and staff in times of crisis. The board's dedication to transparency and accessibility is evident through their provision of a direct link to adopted Board Policies on Mineola's district website, facilitating seamless communication and engagement among students, parents, faculty, staff, and community members.
As champions of academic progress, the board's strategic decisions have propelled Mineola ISD to new heights. Their visionary approach led to establishing a shared Data/RTI position, collaborating with neighboring school districts to monitor accountability across the district. Through local assessments such as NWEA MAP Testing and DMAC, the board empowers principals, teachers, and district administrators to identify and address the unique needs of students in various academic areas. The district's exemplary performance is exemplified by its Accountability Rating of 93 (A) and its consistent outperformance of the Region and State averages, as showcased in the 2021-2022 TAPR Report.
Reflecting on the collective strength of the Board, Glen Dossett, a member of the Mineola ISD Board of Trustees, expressed, "The Mineola ISD board of trustees has a varied but harmonious blend of personalities and talents. The working relationship is effective because the board is focused on providing for the educational and safety needs of the students, faculty, administration, and district staff. I am proud that the board is supportive of ALL school programs. Board members are free to express their opinion without the environment becoming contentious."
In addition to academic excellence, the Board of Trustees is deeply committed to fostering a sense of community and service. Their dedication to outreach initiatives, including food banks and support for the Spanish community, exemplifies their commitment to inclusivity and compassion. The board's remarkable ability to rally community support was evident in the successful bond election of 2022, enabling the district to break ground on the first new campus in 40 years - Mineola Primary School. This monumental achievement signifies a renewed era of growth and enhanced educational opportunities for Mineola ISD students.
MISD Board of Trustees' commitment to nurturing student talents is reflected in their support of extracurricular achievements. Mineola students continue to excel and make a mark at state competitions, with the 22-23 Mineola Yellowjackets Boys Basketball Team securing the esteemed title of quarterfinal champions.
Texas school superintendents who are TASA members and meet other criteria may nominate their boards of trustees for the TASA School Board Awards. Committees of TASA members organized by Texas' regional education service centers review the nominations and select up to two school boards for consideration for the state-level awards: one with fewer than 1,000 students and one with 1,000 or more students.
ESCs submit regional winners to TASA. TASA’s School Board Awards Committee, appointed by the TASA president, reviews the regional winners’ entries and selects up to five boards to be recognized as Honor Boards. Then, in the fall at the TASA | TASB Convention, the School Board Awards Committee interviews each of the Honor Boards to select the Outstanding School Board, which is named during the convention.
The TASA School Board Awards Program was established in 1971 to recognize the dedication and service of school boards that positively impact the schoolchildren of Texas. TASA is the professional association for Texas school superintendents and other administrators. The organization's mission, which focuses on professional learning, advocacy, and member engagement, is to promote, provide and develop leaders who create and sustain student-centered schools and develop future-ready students.
Region 7 ESC is committed to district, charter, and student success by providing quality programs and services that meet or exceed customer expectations. One of 20 regional education service centers statewide, Region 7 ESC participates in the planning, development, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of innovative educational programs for 96 school districts and ten charter schools in the counties of Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Nacogdoches, Rains, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Panola, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood. For more information, visit www.esc7.net.